A child stands with her friends, laughing and carefree
No comprehension of what fate holds in store
Then with two fatal words, "Alyssa Riley!"
Any semblance of safety is shattered; no more.
Smile for the cameras, pose for the crowd
But when nobody's looking, crystal tears hit the ground.
Her blue eyes impassive; this is District Two
A moment of weakness would slit her own throat
A wish that her fake confidence became true
"You'll win for sure, honey!" then they go home to gloat.
A kiss from a lover; a smile through the gloom
Wheels of the train pull her off to her doom.
Dazzling gems, makeup's welcome mask
"Over here, Lyssa!" Blinded by flashes
Forced to attempt an impossible task
Under the watchful eye of the masses
The witless folk proudly cry out her name
Will they cheer on her killer the same?
Metal impales the bullseye; a ghost of a smile
Only the start of a life-ending Career
Weapons, survival, athletics a while
Into the Gamemakers' hearts she strikes fear
As the ten flashes twice on the screen in the sky
Lyssa knows it's not hers; she's been living a lie.
Gong shatters the silence; run, Lyssa, run
Status and sponsors will be your lifeline
Deceptively pretty, pure gold in the sun
As she yells, "Piss off, everyone, this kill is mine!"
His blood paints the grass with a short, hopeless fight
She smiles for the crowd but something dies inside.
Screams are her music; blood stains her eyes
Every new day another family mourns
Every new night, pictures adorn the sky
Lyssa is dead; now a new being's born
Insanity beckons; she gives herself away
A sweet vampire's smile; another day of pain.
Slash the air in grim preparation
Just one more left; beware, beware
The vampire who's lost all hope of exaltation
Who's been through so much that she's learnt not to care
His neck snapped like a twig; don't remember his name
"Alyssa Riley, Victor of the 47th Hunger Games!"
Struggling futilely against the restraints in fear
Why aren't I a skeleton alone in a tomb?
They tell her it's over, it's finished, my dear
Just a flash, a grimace, now you can go home
She sits again in her chair as her family had said
She hugs them again, but her eyes have gone dead.
Now the innocent child with the blue eyes is gone
She's replaced by her shell who breathes but no life
What do they talk of when they say they've moved on?
You can't move on; the dead plague you at night
"You're looking for Lyssa? Oh, don't you know?
I'm afraid that she died a very long time ago."
Thirty years on, her husband kisses her head
Three kids play in the garden and laugh merrily
Couldn't it have been another girl instead?
They still haunt her, cackling cruelly
And though she puts on a mask and people think she's fine
Lyssa never left the games; she still hears the gong's chime
Finally, the madness is her only friend
She opens the drawer and feels the knife's cold edge
Hello, old partner; so we meet again
For many years now she's teetered on a ledge
Blade slices the air with an elegant grace
They find her in a puddle; peaceful smile on her face.
Her kiddies grew up in a sunshine world
And she skips in the meadow,
An innocent blue-eyed girl
With a smile that lights up any soul
Watching over you.
Yes, it's depressing, but it has a happy ending! :)
Reviews are my oxygen, let me breathe!
Karah x